CHIANG RAI – After a difficult year tied to heavy metal pollution in the Kok River and repeated natural disasters, the Mae Yao Subdistrict Administration in Chiang Rai Province has shared a new tourism plan.
The focus now moves to the Mae Yao River, a clean tributary that local leaders say remains free of toxins. Community representatives and business owners recently met to discuss the idea under the theme, “Turning the Kok River contamination crisis into an opportunity, opening a new tourist attraction along the Mae Yao River.”
The timing matters. Songkran, Thailand’s New Year festival, is near, and it draws crowds for water play and riverside events. However, the Kok River, once central to tourism in the area, remains unsafe due to ongoing pollution. Because of that, local groups are building a new option that keeps visitors in Chiang Rai while protecting public health.
Kok River Pollution: A Year of Damage and Lost Income
The Kok River, a major Mekong tributary that runs through Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai, raised serious concerns in early 2025. Tests found high levels of arsenic, lead, cadmium, and other heavy metals. The river begins in Myanmar’s Shan State, where rare earth and gold mining have expanded, and runoff from those sites enters waterways during storms and floods.
In April 2025, Thailand’s Pollution Control Department warned residents to avoid contact with the Kok River water. At several monitoring points, arsenic levels rose above the national safety standard of 0.01 mg/L, and some readings reached more than twice that limit. After that, the Mekong River Commission and independent researchers, including teams from Chiang Mai University, reported broader pollution that reached connected waterways such as the Sai-Ruak River and the Mekong.
Mae Yao Subdistrict felt the impact quickly because many livelihoods depend on river activities. As fears spread, riverside tourism slowed and then stopped. Rafting trips, elephant camps, and eco-tours lost customers, and cancellations became common.
Across northern Thailand, reports estimate combined annual losses of up to 1.3 billion baht (about $40 million USD) for farming, fishing, and tourism linked to the pollution. In Mae Yao, communities such as Karen Ruammitre adjusted daily routines. Elephant camps paused river bathing, and boat operators stopped trips altogether. Songkran events along the Kok River also shrank in 2025, and some were canceled, which removed a key source of seasonal income.
Flooding in 2024 and 2025 made things worse. High water pushed contaminated sediment onto farmland and into residential areas. As a result, many residents began looking for options that could support tourism without relying on the Kok River.
A New Direction: Mae Yao River Promoted as Clear and Clean
According to Tranboundry News, local leaders, along with village heads, proposed a shift toward the Mae Yao River. The river feeds into the Kok but begins higher in the mountains from the Mae Sai and Song Khwae streams. Residents describe it as clear, with steady flow through the year, thanks to water sources from less disturbed upland areas.
At the meeting, a representative from the Mae Yao Subdistrict Administration said the Mae Yao River remains safe and visually clean. They also said its scenery and dependable water levels make it a practical choice for replacing some Kok River activities.
Plans place Ban Sai Mun (Village 8) at the center of the new push. The site offers about 2 kilometers of reachable river area, with roughly 800 meters marked for early tourism setup.
The early concept includes:
- Wet rafting and tubing as main activities, with a focus on safe fun during Songkran for families and groups.
- Community-run oversight, so residents guide planning, daily operations, and river care.
- Environmental safeguards, including visitor limits and basic rules to keep the water clean.
- Local culture and nature experiences, such as Lanna touches, homestays, and guided walks.
Local operators at the discussion said the change could protect Songkran earnings that usually depend on the Kok River crowds. One business owner said the community can’t let one polluted river end tourism, and the Mae Yao River offers a restart with water people feel comfortable using.
Community Tourism to Support Recovery
The Mae Yao River plan fits with the wider interest in community-based tourism across northern Thailand. Organizers want local families to benefit directly, rather than seeing profits leave the area. At the same time, the project ties income to conservation, since the attraction depends on keeping the river clean.
Village heads also stressed the need for shared responsibility. They discussed training for local guides, clear safety steps for water activities, and basic facilities such as rest areas and changing spots.
For Songkran 2026, organizers picture a smaller but active celebration along the Mae Yao River. Plans include safe water play, cultural shows, and food stalls featuring local vendors. They hope the site appeals to Thai travelers and international visitors who still want Songkran traditions but prefer places away from known contamination zones.
Some hurdles remain. The area needs startup funding for facilities, and it also needs promotion to introduce the Mae Yao River as a new Chiang Rai destination. Still, regional observers have welcomed the community’s push to adapt while facing cross-border pollution concerns.
For many residents, the Mae Yao River now stands for a more hopeful path. It’s clear that water supports safer festival fun, and it also brings attention back to protecting natural resources. A village head summed up the mood by saying the community has already lost a lot to Kok River toxins, but it is building something stronger around the Mae Yao River.
As Songkran draws closer, Mae Yao is watching the mountains and the streams that feed them, and moving ahead with a plan shaped by safety, local control, and practical recovery.
